Parenting Progress: Increased Self-Regulation Can Still Look “Inappropriate”
My near eight-year-old has been raised in an emotionally supportive, non-punitive home. He has never been spanked, put in time-out, or given arbitrary consequences. His dad and I infrequently raise our voices in anger, and have always apologized when we do. High value...Easing the Stress of Power Struggles
“He’s always grabbing for power,” “She wants to control everything,” “I have to show them who’s boss!” I hear statements like this from parents a lot. Our cultural environment doesn’t help; with its unrealistic expectations and tendency to judge how well a parent...On Power: Some Perspective-Shifting Thoughts
“Instead of assuming a power stance, a parent can become a problem-solving facilitator.” – Janet Gonzalez-Mena I’ve written about power before, but it keeps coming up. I get calls from parents who want help with discipline, handling meltdowns, and...What If All Feelings Were Acceptable?
Feelings and emotions: What do they do? Why are they important? From a neurological perspective, emotions are messages. Feelings are essentially our brains and bodies in communication with each other. If we feel scared, our brains sends chemicals into our bodies that...Why I Praised My Son for Threatening to Throw a Bowl at Me Today
“Thanks for not throwing that bowl at me kiddo!” Lest you think I have some simple formula for creating Stepford children, let me share a little parenting scenario with you. First, some back story: Like many parents of school-aged children, in my...
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